dsmith_rn

Just do a search on YouTube for "VSG" and a ton of stuff will come up. Have fun!

Yes the YouTube videos were a great comfort to me in the days leading up to surgery, thank you. Jeez. ... YouTube has EVERYTHING. Who knew? Lol I'm feeling OK, just weak and constantly hungry from the clear liquid diet. Just gotta get through 1 more day of it and I can move to full liquids including applesauce, cream of wheat, etc. Right now ANYTHING sounds good! But I am a rule follower too, and I refuse to allow my intense hunger to screw this up for me. I need to let my new baby stomach heal, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. If I follow all my surgeons' rules, I will be a success! Have you found any foods your sleeve doesn't like yet?

34 lb in a month is incredible! CONGRATULATIONS!

I would think a week or 2 out you will really enjoy a walk on the beach! I get better each day. Today I only took 2 pain pills all day (I'm on day 5). My main complaint is being so hungry, still on liquids and food seems to be everywhere. Hopefully tomorrow will be my last day on clear liquids; they should advance me to full liquids on Thursday. Right now a Protein shake sounds divine! Clears leaves you feeling weak (and HUNGRY) so I'm looking forward to having this part behind me. Overall I feel pretty good, just a little sore after walking and need a lot of rest because I feel weak/malnourished. The pain has never been bad but I take pain meds anyway so I can walk more. Sounds like you have a good plan in place, I think you will do great! Wishing I could go walk on the beach. .... It's only a few hours drive, I may have to give this some serious thought.

Yes, but how do the Gas-X strips get from your mouth and stomach up to your shoulders? The gas isn't in your intestines, it's in the peritoneal and thoracic cavities. Just sayin. ..... ???

Thank you, at least I know what to expect, and that it's not abnormal.

I didn't feel the gas strips helped at all, after all the gas pains were in my shoulders, not my gut! Some people swear by them though and I figured they couldn't hurt so I took them anyway. Honestly, what helped the most was WALKING as much as possible. They wouldn't let me user my heating pad in the hospital, and by the time I got home the next day the gas pains were gone. God luck I didn't feel the gas strips helped at all, after all the gas pains were in my shoulders, not my gut! Some people swear by them though and I figured they couldn't hurt so I took them anyway. Honestly, what helped the most was WALKING as much as possible. They wouldn't let me user my heating pad in the hospital, and by the time I got home the next day the gas pains were gone. Good luck, you will do great!

Thank you for the encouragement! I am SO hungry this morning. ... It's nice to know it will pass. For now I have to find a way to distract myself from the constant gnawing. ..

I had Dr Boone at Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital. My experience was excellent!

I am still on Clear Liquids only, for 1 week total. broth, Jello, Gatorade, Popsicles. Not very filling, lol. The next 2 weeks will be full liquids before moving on to purees. With full liquids I can add Protein shakes, applesauce, thinned cream of wheat, stuff that's a bit more filling.

I'll admit to some head hunger which is fairly easy to ignore, but this gnawing, growling, hollow feeling in my new sleeve??? I wasnt expecting to feel real hunger this soon after surgery, it's disheartening. I sure hope my doc will advance me to full liquids in Thursday at my post-op appointment, I think it may help with my uncomfortably rumbling tummy. Is this normal???

I have had a lot of head hunger, but I could swear I have passing waves of REAL hunger too. ...I wasnt expecting that! I hope it will ease up after I'm on full liquids......

Thanks for the encouragement, Linda! I really needed to hear from someone who is a bit further out and has some perspective. I've been going through some "What the h*ll have I done to myself" moments these last few days, which I realize is normal but still difficult. Right now I feel like I will never be able to eat a normal food again. The thought of putting anything solid in my sleeve terrifies me, and yet I miss solid food. A lot. I appreciate you sharing!

I don't know about gum, but I know straws are out. They will cause us to swallow too much air, and it seems to me take swallows that are too big (I'm still having to take little sips). Today is definitely better than yesterday as far as being able to drink, I'm thinking it should all be downhill from here.

My nurse was right. Day 3 was the worst because of inflammation. I only got about 20 oz of fluids in the whole day, every tiny swallow gave me that tight, uncomfortable feeling of indigestion in my chest. Today is better. It's not as uncomfortable to drink. I walked my dog 3 blocks since the weather is so nice. My blood pressure is almost normal for which I am very grateful. I've taken bp meds for years and it got scary high while I was in the hospital. I'm avoiding the TV because of all the food COMMERCIALS! Food looks good and sounds good, but there is no way I would attempt to put any solid food in my baby stomach right now. .... Still my brain wants it. Weird.

Good luck, biggie! See you on the other side!

I had my daughter go get some tonight. It's the best tasting thing I've had since surgery. I had her pour me 8 oz and refrigerate the rest. About halfway through I got a wave of nausea that lasted a few minutes so I'm afraid to drink more even though it tastes so good. Ugh, I still have 3 more days of clear liquids to go!

Good luck! I know you will do great! Keep us updated, k?

I got in about 75 oz yesterday, but that was before the major swelling set in. I think we will have to be patient and wait for the swelling to go down.

I know a popsicle is 4 oz, my broth is 8 oz, Jello is 4 oz and the rest I measure (tea, Water, Gatorade). I will be on clears until Thursday so keeping track is important. I've only managed 12 oz so far today, not good. I'm so swollen nothing wants to go down. If it's not better by tomorrow I'm calling the surgeon's office. Hope this is the worst of it!

Day 3 I'm having a little trouble getting my fluids down. My nurse was right, I can feel the inflammation is worst today. My baby stomach is so swollen it's nothing more than a tiny tube rather than a pouch. Even a small sip of Gatorade feels uncomfortable, each swallow gives pressure in my chest like indigestion. I'm not about to let myself get dehydrated though, so I'm pushing on through. ....

That's pretty normal, but you have to have confidence in your surgeon. Remind yourself WHY you are doing this, what your rewards will be! We can't get where we want to be without some sacrifice. This is the price we are willing to pay for health and happiness.

How are you all keeping track of your fluid intake? Paper and pencil? Remember it in your head? Phone app? What?

Please remember you are having MAJOR SURGERY and take the time you need to heal! Nursing School is very stressful!!! Don't set your recovery back by trying to do too much, even if you feel well, you know this. Sending thoughts and prayers your way, Diann

I only had 1 day of liquid diet pre-op, but I used the Chike shakes, Jello, hot tea, crystal light. I called in sick the last day because I was up til almost 2am and still had so much to do before going to the hospital. I kept myself very busy so didn't notice hunger too much. I'm feeling great. I wasnt prepared for how awful I would feel the first 8 hours post-op, mostly from the anesthesia I think. But every hour since then has gotten better! I am drinking, peeing, walking and resting in between, taking my meds, and using my incentive spirometer whenever I think about it and I'm feeling very well, just a little sore. I got home today around 3:30 and been resting with my little dog at my side. Having a body pillow really helps me get comfortable on my side by supporting my incisions. I haven't used my heating pad yet but might at bedtime. I've already had my 64 oz of fluids for the day and it's not even dinner time yet. I've been real thirsty so that has helped, probably from the anesthesia. My nurse advised me to take my pain meds on a schedule the next couple of days, as the inflammation peaks on day 3 post-op, so that is my plan. No worries, I will friend you. Message me anytime. HUGS, Diann